Master Memoir

A twelve-week workshop for writers who want to think seriously about memoir in the context of narrative voice and structure. We’ll work with prompts, exercises, and strategies for revision to help you see your memoir in a new light. You can expect to generate a good amount of writing during the workshop, and you will present a new or revised piece for workshop every other week. While new writing is encouraged, interested writers should also consider this an opportunity to work through problems that have arisen with an existing manuscript. Please bring the first two pages of your memoir to the first class.

Authors studied might include:

• Susannah Cahalan
• Richard Hoffman
• Joan Wickersham
• James McBride
• Richard Rodriguez
• Gerda Weissmann Klein

Note: Class will not meet on August 6th.

Important dates:

The application deadline for this class is June 4th at 11:59pm. Applicants can expect to learn of decisions 1-2 weeks after the deadline. 

To apply, please click the red "SEE DIRECTIONS TO APPLY" button in the top right corner of this page. This application will ask you to detail your workshop experience. It will also ask you to upload a 5-10 page writing sample. Please make sure this writing sample is in Microsoft Word, double-spaced, and in 12-point font. For tracking purposes, your name should appear in the file name (e.g. Escoffery.Novel Title.Submission). Decisions will be emailed to applicants approx. 1 week after the deadline. You can also track the status of your application in your Grubstreet profile. Please make sure your application is complete before you finally click "APPLY." If you have any technical difficulties filling out this application, please email [email protected]. You will receive a confirmation email once our system has received your submission.

Did you know that we have scholarships available for all GrubStreet classes? To apply, click the "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button in the top right corner of this page. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your scholarship application and await our Scholarship Committee's decision before registering for the class. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.